From the East Room of the White House Tuesday, January 5, 2016, President Barack Obama took executive action by announcing his “10 point plan” to increase gun safety within the United States.

With teary eyes, the President began his proclamation by honoring the victims of high-profile mass shootings, with former congress member and gun violence victim, Gabrielle Giffords, at his side. Obama reflected: “Five years ago this week, a sitting member of Congress and 18 others were shot at, at a supermarket in Tucson, Arizona.  It wasn’t the first time I had to talk to the nation in response to a mass shooting, nor would it be the last.  Fort Hood.  Binghamton.  Aurora.  Oak Creek.  Newtown.  The Navy Yard.  Santa Barbara.  Charleston.  San Bernardino.  Too many.”

His rhetoric focused on appealing to the emotions of the American people, with staccato, dramatic statements, Obama continued: “Every single year, more than 30,000 Americans have their lives cut short by guns — 30,000.  Suicides.  Domestic violence.  Gang shootouts.  Accidents.  Hundreds of thousands of Americans have lost brothers and sisters, or buried their own children.  Many have had to learn to live with a disability, or learned to live without the love of their life.”

Many argued that this solemn introduction detracted from Obama’s announcement, namely Conservative and Tea Party Republicans.

“The American people do not need more emotional, condescending lectures that are completely devoid of facts,” said a top NRA (National Riffle Association) official, Chris Cox.

Similarly, Florida Senator and Republican Presidential hopeful Marco Rubio believes that, “Barack Obama is obsessed with undermining the Second Amendment,” even though in his address the President stated: “I believe in the Second Amendment.  It’s there written on the paper.  It guarantees a right to bear arms.”

However, opinions aside, the president addressed the nation to introduce common sense gun control laws that congress has failed to pass.

Obama’s speech essentially can be broken into five main points:

1. “anybody in the business of selling firearms must get a license and conduct background checks, or be subject to criminal prosecutions”
2. “we’re going to do everything we can to ensure the smart and effective enforcement of gun safety laws that are already on the books”
3. “we’re going to do more to help those suffering from mental illness get the help that they need”
4. “we’re going to boost gun safety technology”
5. “all of us need to demand a Congress brave enough to stand up to the gun lobby’s lies”

In response, Normal West Social Studies Department chair, Tracy Freeman, had this to say about the President’s latest address: “Obama’s executive action certainly has everyone upset… he did something in response to the large number of gun related domestic tragedies during his term. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough regulation to make the left happy but was enough to tick off the right who seem to think that the second amendment somehow protects gun ownership absolutely, unlike any other right mentioned in the Bill of Rights. I am a law abiding citizen and can still have my speech restricted for the common good;  but should not have gun ownership/use restricted at all… according to the  gun lobby.”

Freeman continued by stating: “President Obama has used fewer executive actions than other contemporary presidents.  Far less… he just has “swung for the fence” with his immigration action (which was stopped by Supreme Court).  This particular action can and most likely will be slowed by Congress who has to approve the funding that would allow this action to be put into place… I predict either Congress will not provide funding for this to fully or partially be implemented… Or the Supreme Court will eventually be handed a case or challenge to overturn.”

From a student perspective, Normal West senior, Emma Nippe, shared this: “I’m very anti-gun so any attempt to limit the amount of guns in our country is more than likely a good thing. I also think, though, that Obama has almost abused the power of executive order over his presidencies because our three tiered government is put in place so that one person isn’t making every decision.” From his actions, Nippe added; “I can definitely foresee a government shutdown in response to the executive action because gun control is such a hot topic to many people in the country and government.”